Sliding panel structure



Nov. 15, 1966 M. s. RIFKIN SLIDING PANEL STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1965 l/VVE/VTOI? MORTON S. RIFKIN Nov. 15, 1966 M. s. RlFKlN 3,284,953

SLIDING PANEL STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.I2

SHG'IO M RTON SRIFKIN United States Patent 3,284,953 SLIDING PANEL STRUCTURE Morton S. Rifkin, Miami, Fla., assignor to Florida Aluminum Enterprises, Inc., Miami, Fla. Filed Jan. 25, 1965, Ser. No. 427,729 2 Glaims. (Cl. 49-420) This invention is directed to sliding panel structures and has for its principal object such a structure for enclosing a door or window opening that permits the use of a minimum of different parts in the construction of a panel and the use of identical panels where a plurality of sliding panels are required to enclose the opening.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pair of identically constructed sliding panels wherein one of the panels needed to enclose an opening is rotated 180 degrees with relation to the other and positioned in the opening.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sliding panel with a plurality of resiliently supported roller mountings which are secured in position without the necessity of fasteners and can be readily inserted into or removed from the panel.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sliding panel and a latch member which are simple in construction, inexpensive in cost and having a maximum of interchangeable parts whereby consequently a minimum of different parts is required to fabricate the panel.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a roller mounting for a sliding door that can be used on a single track or a recessed track with spaced apart flanges by merely reversing the position of the mounting on the panel frame.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view with parts broken away of a sliding panel constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIGURES 2 and 3 are cross sectional views taken along the lines 22 and 33 respectively of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of my roller mounting and spring.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the roller mounting.

FIGURE 6 is an end view thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is a View similar to FIGURE 3 showing the roller mounting adapted for a recessed track.

FIGURE 10 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 1111 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 12 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of FIGURE 12.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers to a sliding screen panel con- "ice structed in accordance with my invention and slidably mounted in an opening at one end of which is a vertical jamb 91 against which the panel 10 closes. A track 26 is mounted along the upper portion of the opening 90 while a track 27 is mounted at the base thereof. The panel 10 which is mounted for slidable movement on the tracks 26 and 27 consists of a frame formed of a single length of an extrusion or formed member cut into desired lengths to form stiles 11 and 12 joined at their ends to upper and lower headers 13 and 14 respectively. The ends of the frame members 11, 12, 13 and 14 are provided with conventional interengaging keys or block members (not shown) fastened together to form a sturdy and integral support frame for a screen 15.

The extrusion or formed member from which the frame members 11, 12, 13 and 14 are fabricated consists of side Wall members 13 in spaced parallel relation to each other. At one end the walls 18 are folded on each other as at 19 for a relatively short distance and extending to the side walls 18 as at 20 to form a recess or slotted portion.

At the other ends the side walls 18 are bent in a direction toward each other as at 22 and at their juncture the members 22 engage each other and extend in parallel relation to the side walls 18 for a short distance when the members are bent at right angle as at 23 to form a slotted portion 24. The slotted portion 24 which extends about the inner periphery of the rectangular frame of the panel 10 receives the edges of the screen 15 which is secured therein by a vinyl member 25 wedged therein.

The upper and lower headers 13 and 14 are provided at each end thereof with slots 28 in the end walls 20. The function of the slots 28 is to permit the placing of wheel or roller mountings 29 in position in the space formed by the walls 18, 20 and 22 and to permit a roller 31 to extend beyond the wall 20 and engage either the upper track 26 or the lower track 27.

The wheel mounting 29 is provided with a U-shaped molded plastic member consisting of side walls 32 joined at their ends to an end wall 33. The inner surfaces of the side walls 32 are stepped inwardly as at 35 to form a slotted portion 34 for receiving a roller 36. Aligned bores are formed in the side walls 33 as at 37 for receiving the shafts 38 of the roller 36. The aligned bores 3-7 are so positioned on the side walls 32 that the periphery of the roller 36 extends beyond the upper edges 39 and outer ends 41 of the walls 32 while the lower edges or skirts 40 of the walls 32 extend beyond the periphery of the roller 35 at the bottom portion of the walls 32. Adjacent the end wall 33 of the wheel mounting is a pair of shoulders 42 which form a slotted portion 43 for receiving the end 44 of a wheel mounting support spring 45. The other end of the leaf spring 45 is arcuate as at 47 with flange portions 48 and 49 mounted at the ends of the arcuate portion 47 and an extensible portion 55 bent as at 46 connecting the end portion 44 and the flange portion 49. In the assembly of the wheel mounting 29, the end portion 44 of the leaf spring 45 is received by the slotted portion '43. If the end portion 44 of the leaf spring 45 is inserted into the slotted portion 43 at the position of the upper edge 39 of the end walls 32 as shown by FIG- URE 1, the wheel or roller 35 would be adapted for rolling on a single track 26 with the skirts 40 positioned on either side of the track 27 for maintaining the roller 36 in position at all times on the track 27. If the leaf spring 45 were mounted on the wheel mounting 29 by inserting the end portion 44 into the slotted portion 43 of the wheel mounting 29 from the side opposite that previously described, namely from the side of the lower edge 40, the wheel mounting 29 will be adapted for use on the track 52 having a pair of spaced flanges 53 for guiding the roller 36 as shown by FIGURES 9 and 10.

The combined spring 45 and wheel mounting 29 are inserted into position on the frame of the panel by grasping the wheel mounting 29 in ones hand and inserting the arcuate portion 47 of the spring through the opening 28 in the end wall 20 until the flange or shoulder portion 49 of the spring 45 engages the edge of the opening 28 as-the end flange 48 and the lower part of the arcuate portion 47 of the leaf spring 45 engages the end wall 20 of the frame. The spring 45 will remain in the position as shown by FIGURE 1 and the roller 35 will yieldingly engage the track 32.

Mounted on the end wall 20 of the frame adjacent each of the openings 28 is a slidable cam 54 having an opening 55 for receiving a fastener 56 which extends through elongated openings 57 in the side walls 18 of the frame members 13 and 14. The elongated opening 57 permits the adjusting of the position of the cam 54 with relation to the roller mounting 29. In order to prevent the weight the panel 10 from being borne by the two lower springs 45, the cams 54 of the lower header 14 are slid into position so that the wheel mountings 29 are supported directly by the cams 54. However, the upper cams 54 are maintained out of contact with the two upper wheel mountings 29 so that the two upper rollers 35 will yieldingly engage the upper track 32. This construction permits the ready insertion and removal of the panels from the opening 90. Also after the panel 10 has been positioned in the opening 90 with the rollers 35 engaging the tracks 26 and 27, the effectiveness of the two lower cams 54 may be varied by loosening the fastener 56 and slid-ing the lower cam-s 54 in the direction of the wheel mountings 29 or away therefrom depending on whether the upper rollers 35 are engaging the track 32 loosely or too tightly. If it is desired to lock the panel in position in the opening 90, the upper cams 54 may be slid into position against their respective wheel mountings 29. Now the panel 10 cannot be removed from the opening 90 by simply lifting the panel 10 as before against the spring force of the two upper springs 45 to free the lower rollers of the lower track 33.

It is to be noted that when the roller mountings 29 with their leaf springs 45 have been positioned .within the frames 13 and 14 as shown by FIGURE 1, they cannot be dislodged inadvertantly in spite of the fact the leaf springs 45 are not fastened to the end walls 20 or 22. Obviously when the cam blocks 54 support the roller mountings 29, the shoulders 49 will engage the edge of the end wall 20 at the opening 28 to prevent any sliding movement of the wheel mounting 29. The upper wheel mountings 29 which are yieldingly supported by the leaf springs 45 cannot become dislodged by a downward (transverse) force or a horizontal force applied thereon; any force such as a pull applied on the wheel mounting 29 will cause the upper part of the arcuate portion 47 to bear tightly against the end wall 22, 22 while the flange portion 48 bears tightly against the lower end wall 20 of the frame members 13. To remove or dislodge the wheel mounting from its position in the frame member 13, a downward force must be applied on the leaf spring 45 at the position of the shoulder 49 to disengage the upper part of the arcuate portion 47 which will become disengaged from end wall 22, 22. Then upon grasping the roller mounting 29 between the fingers and pulling the mounting 29 upwardly through the opening 28 the wheel mounting 29 and the leaf spring 45 are removed from the frame member 13.

On both of the jambs, namely jamb 91 and the other not shown, there is provided a catch or keeper 58 fastened thereto for engaging a latch mechanism 60 mounted on the frame member 12. The latter is provided with a pair of shields 61 and 62 extending inwardly of the frame 12 and fastened by screws 163. The shields 61 and 62 have their ends terminating in flange portions 63 and 64 which provide a finger grip for sliding the panel 10. The shield 61 is flat along its full length while the shield 62 is bent inwardly as at 65 and bent again as at 66 where the shields 61 and 62 engage each other. The end of the finger grip 64 of the shield 62 is flush with the outer surface of the panel 10 while the finger grip 63 of the shield 61 extends beyond the other surface of the panel 10. This construction permits the sliding of a plurality of panels similar in construction to the panel 10 along each other on the side of the panel on which the shield 62 is mounted.

The shield 62 is provided with an opening 67 which is aligned with an opening 68 in the side wall 18 of the frame 12 and which receives a cup shaped member 69 of smaller size than the length of the opening 67 with flanges 70 to permit the sliding movement of the member 69 in the opening 67. The member 69 is secured to a plastic insert 71 by a screw 72. The plastic insert 71 is slidably positioned on an elongated opening 73 positioned in a triangular shaped body portion 74 of the latch 60. Inasmuch as the insert 71 is provided with a flange portion 74 which bears on the outer surface of the latch body member 74, the member 69 and the latch 60 will slide as a unit in a vertical direction within the openings 67, 68. At the forward portion of the latch 60 is a latch portion 75 extending through an opening 76 in the end wall 20 and positioned in the slotted portion 21. The body portion 74 of the latch 60 is provided with posts 77 which receive the hooked ends 78 of a leaf spring 79. The leaf spring 79 yieldingly bears against the wall 22 of the frame 12 to urge the latch member 75 to its outermost position in alignment with the outer edges of the frame edge portions 19, 19. The function of the leaf spring 79 is to prevent the catch or keeping 58 from becoming bent or broken when the screen panel 10 is slid toward the jamb 91 when the latch 60 is in its lowermost position. In this situation, the latch member 75 will strike the catch 58, but the leaf spring 79 will give resiliently permitting the latch 60 to slide rearwardly along the insert 71. By sliding the member 69 upwardly, the latch member 75 will be positioned above the catch 58 and with the panel 10 against the jamb 91 the latch member 75 can be made to engage the catch 58 upon sliding the member 69 downwardly.

What I claim as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a sliding panel having a substantially rectangularly shaped frame, said frame comprising elongated elements each having a pair of spaced apart side walls and an end wall and recessed end wall joining said side walls to form a slotted portion at said recessed end wall and a plurality of openings in said recessed end walls, the combination comprising a plurality of roller means, said roller means each having a pair of side walls in substantially spaced and parallel relation, said roller side walls having upper and lower edge portions and end portions, an end wall joining said roller side Walls at one of said end portions, said roller side walls having aligned openings in proximity of the other of said end portions and said upper edge portion, shoulder means mounted on an inner surface of said roller side walls adjacent said end wall to form a slotted portion, a leaf spring supporting said roller means and having an end portion received by said slotted portion, said leaf spring having an arcuate portion engaging said end walls of said frame, and shoulder means engaging an edge portion of said openings in said recessed end walls for securing said leaf spring in said frame with said roller means extending through said openings and a cam mounted for slidable movement between said side walls of said frame, elon gated openings positioned on said side walls and a fastener extending through said elongated openings and said cam whereby said cam may be positioned in contact relation with said roller means to support said roller means and render said leaf spring ineffectual.

2. In a sliding panel having a substantially rectangularly shaped frame, said frame comprising elongated elements each having a pair of spaced'apart side walls and end walls joining said side walls, one of said end walls being recessed to form a slotted portion, an opening in said recessed end wall and one of said side walls, the combination comprising latch means slidably mounted in said frame and extending through said opening in said end wall, said latch means having a substantially triangularly shaped body portion positioned between said side walls, a horizontally elongated opening positioned at a mid portion of said body member, a cup shaped member positioned in said Opening in said side wall, said cup shaped member being smaller in its vertical length than said opening to permit sliding movement of said cup shaped member in said opening, an insert slidably positioned in said horizontally elongated opening, fastening means securing said cup shaped member and said latch means, a plurality of posts mounted on said body References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,861,660 11/1958 Ensign 189-46 3,040,391 6/1962 Saunders 2019 3,090,084 5/1963 Banner 20-19 3,120,033 2/1964 Andres 2019 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. IN A SLIDING PANEL HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULARLY SHAPED FRAME, SAID FRAME COMPRISING ELONGATED ELEMENTS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED APART SIDE WALLS AND AN END WALL AND RECESSED END WALL JOINING SAID SIDE WALLS TO FORM A SLOTTED PORTION AT SAID RECESSED END WALL AND A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS IN SAID RECESSED END WALLS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ROLLER MEANS, SAID ROLLER MEANS EACH HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS IN SUBSTANTIALLY SPACED AND PARALLEL RELATION, SAID ROLLER SIDE WALLS HAVING UPPER AND LOWER EDGE PORTIONS AND END PORTIONS, AN END WALL JOINING SAID ROLLER SIDE WALLS AT ONE OF SAID END PORTIONS, SAID ROLLER SIDE WALLS HAVING ALIGNED OPENINGS IN PROXIMITY OF THE OTHER OF SAID END PORTIONS AND SAID UPPER EDGE PORTION, SHOULDER MEANS MOUNTED ON AN INNER SURFACE OF SAID ROLLER SIDE WALLS ADJACENT SAID END WALL TO FORM A SLOTTED PORTION, A LEAF SPRING SUPPORTING SAID ROLLER MEANS AND HAVING AN END PORTION RECEIVED BY SAID SLOTTED PORTION, SAID LEAF SPRING HAVING AN ARCUATE PORTION ENGAGING SAID END WALLS OF SAID FRAME, AND SHOULDER MEANS ENGAGING AN EDGE PORTION OF SAID OPENINGS IN SAID RECESSED END WALLS FOR SECURING SAID LEAF SPRING IN SAID FRAME WITH SAID ROLLER MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENINGS AND A CAM MOUNTED FOR SLIDABLE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS OF SAID FRAME, ELONGATED OPENINGS POSITIONED ON SAID SIDE WALLS AND A FASTENER EXTENDING THROUGH SAID ELONGATED OPENINGS AND SAID CAM WHEREBY SAID CAM MAY BE POSITIONED IN CONTACT RELATION WITH SAID ROLLER MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID ROLLER MEANS AND RENDER SAID LEAF SPRING INEFFECTUAL. 